Thank you for your contributions to the
Lawrence Centre’s Developing
Sustainable Energy Policy Workshop,
part of the Building Paths to a Low
Carbon Society Workshop series. We have
70 confirmed attendees, including
members of our steering committee, as
well as a team of student participants.
We are looking forward to hosting a very
productive two days of deliberations
resulting in a professionally prepared
workshop proceedings report that will be
posted on the Lawrence National Centre
website and presented to key federal,
provincial and municipal stakeholders in
the months following the workshop. The
workshop agenda is focused on creating a
stimulating discussion that will engage
everyone.
On Sunday evening, we are looking
forward hearing Deputy Minister of
Energy, James Gillis, deliver the
remarks of our Keynote Speaker, the
Honourable Dwight Duncan, Minister of
Energy and Chair of Cabinet for the
Province of Ontario. Minister Duncan is
a longstanding and respected member of
the Ontario Legislature, first elected
as MPP in June 1995 to serve the
residents of Windsor- St. Clair. As
Minister, his goals are directed toward
fostering a culture of conservation,
while ensuring a reliable, sustainable,
diverse and affordable supply of power
for the province. The Deputy Minister
will be able to address questions of the
participants in an informal setting on
the first evening of the workshop. As a
member of the Energy Council of Canada,
and a director with the Ontario
Electricity Financial Corporation, he is
a knowledgeable Deputy to the Minister
and we are very pleased to have him as
part of our deliberations.
On Monday evening, we welcome Dr. Joe
Visalli, Director, Energy Resources, New
York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA) as our
Keynote Speaker. NYSERDA has been a
public benefit corporation since 1975,
with a mission to “provide solutions to
New York’s energy challenges in ways
that benefit the New York economy and
environment, and establish and maintain
strategic partnerships.”
In 2005, our 1st Annual Lawrence
Distinguished Lecture in Policy and
Management was delivered by Dr. Kevin
Lynch, Executive Director for Canada at
the International Monetary Fund. Today,
Kevin Lynch is Clerk of the Privy
Council and Secretary to the Cabinet for
the Government of Canada. His message,
“Strengthening the Canadian Advantage:
Fostering Productivity Through Sound
Public Policy,” challenged us to engage
in a collaborative approach between all
sectors during public policy
deliberations.
The challenge of creating a new approach
to public policy development was further
underlined in our 2nd Distinguished
Lecture, “Meeting the Competitiveness
Challenge: Surviving and Winning in a
Transforming Global Economy,” presented
by Michael Sabia, President and CEO,
Bell Canada Enterprises. This conference
is our attempt, as a part of a broader
series of workshops, to meet both
challenges! By engaging in frank
discussion with representation from
government, academia, business and
non-governmental organizations on the
policy options and challenges facing us,
we will develop an informed response
that meets the needs of the changing
energy realities for Canada’s future.
Our
colleagues from the University of
Victoria will present Evergreen Papers
that originated from the first workshop
held last October. As second in a
series, this workshop will set the stage
for future consultation with governments
at all levels.
The Lawrence National Centre is
committed to the development of sound
public policy by providing a neutral
forum for business, academia, and
government to think globally, act
strategically, and contribute to the
societies in which they operate.
We welcome you to London!
Dianne
Cunningham
Director, Lawrence Centre
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